Agapanthus plant named ‘Galaxy White’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Agapanthus plant named ‘Galaxy White’ characterized by winter-hardy compact habit with clean, lanceolate, medium-green foliage that goes dormant in the winter; single white flowers on tall scapes flowering beginning about mid-July and with repeating new scapes into late summer for about six weeks.

Botanical classification: Agapanthus praecox (L.) hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Galaxy White’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES UNDER 37 CFR 1.77(B)(6)

The first public disclosure of the claimed plant, in the form of awebsite to the public and email release to customers, was made byWalters Gardens, Inc. on Feb. 1, 2018. Walters Gardens, Inc. obtainedthe new plant and information about the new plant directly from theinventor. No plants of Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’ have been sold, in thiscountry or anywhere in the world, nor has any disclosure of the newplant been made, more than one year prior the filing date of thisapplication, and such sale or disclosure within one year was eitherderived directly or indirectly from the inventor.

BACKGROUND AND ORIGIN OF THE PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lily of the Nileplant, Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’ hereinafter also referred to as the newplant or just the cultivar name, ‘Galaxy White’. Agapanthus ‘GalaxyWhite’ was selected by the inventor in July of 2012 in the researchfields of a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA. The newplant originated from the controlled cross between the female or seedparent known as ‘Old Wayside Gardens Clone’ (not patented) and ‘KingstonBlue’ (not patented) as the male or pollen parent. The new plant wasselected as a single seedling from this cross and was assigned thebreeder code H10-04-01 during the remainder of the trial process.

The new plant has been asexually propagated by division and shoot tiptissue culture at the same wholesale nursery in Zeeland, Mich. since2012 with all resultant asexually propagated plants having retained allthe same unique traits as the original plant. Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’has proven to be stable and reproduces true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The most similar known lily of the Nile cultivars are: ‘Pavlova’ U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,542, ‘Snow Pixie’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,470, ‘WhiteHeaven’ (not patented), ‘Prolific White’ (not patented) and ‘WP001’ U.S.Plant Pat. No. 27,357. ‘Pavlova’ and ‘Snow Pixie’ are shorter in flowerwith fewer flowers per stem and less winter-hardy than the new plant.‘Snowstorm’ (not patented) is also shorter in flower with fewer flowers,but hardiness has not been compared. ‘White Heaven’ is slightly shorterin flower, has larger flowers and larger flower heads, and the foliageis wider and is also much less winter-hardy. ‘Prolific White’ has slightdark purple pigment near the top of the flower stems and is equally ashardy. ‘WP001’ is much shorter but hardiness has not been compared.

The female plant has a light blue flower with fewer flowers per umbel.‘Kingston Blue’ has blue flowers with fewer flower per stem, floweringheight is shorter and not as winter-hardy as the new plant.

Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’ differs from all other lily of the Nile plantsknown to the applicant, by the combination of the following traits:

-   -   1. White flowers in large heads on tall, stiff stems;    -   2. Long season of bloom.    -   3. Winter-hardy, compact, clean, medium-green foliage that goes        dormant in the winter;    -   4. Flowering begins about mid-July with excellent coverage and        sending new scapes into late summer for about six weeks;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photograph of the new plant demonstrates the overall appearance ofthe plant, including the unique traits. The colors are as accurate asreasonably possible with color reproductions. Ambient light spectrum,temperature, source and direction may cause the appearance of minorvariation in color.

FIG. 1 shows an eight-year-old plant in peak flower during mid-summer ina full-sun research garden in Zeeland, Mich.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower and buds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions and color references are based on the 2015edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except wherecommon dictionary terms are used. The new plant, Agapanthus ‘GalaxyWhite’, has not been observed under all possible environments. Thephenotype may vary slightly with different environmental conditions,such as temperature, light, fertility, moisture and maturity levels, butwithout any change in the genotype. The following observations and sizedescriptions are of an eight-year-old plant in a sunny landscape at aresearch garden in Zeeland, Mich. with and supplemental water andfertilizer.

-   Botanical classification: Agapanthus praecox (L.) hybrid;-   Parentage: Female (seed) parent is known only as ‘Old Wayside    Gardens Clone’; male (pollen) parent is ‘Kingston Blue’;-   Propagation: Division of the rhizome and shoot tip tissue culture;-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid;-   Crop time: About 10 to 14 weeks to flower starting in spring in a    3.8 liter container from vernalized one-year-old plant;-   Rooting habit: Primary roots thick and fleshy, secondary roots    fibrous;-   Root color: Nearest RHS 159C depending on soil type;-   Plant shape and habit: Winter-hardy herbaceous perennial with    pseudo-umbel inflorescence; about 50 flowering stems surrounded by    acaulescent foliage forming a dense mound;-   Plant size: Foliage width about 82.5 cm wide, height about 40.0 cm    tall from soil line to the top of the leaves; about 110.0 cm tall to    highest inflorescence and about 90.0 cm wide at the widest point at    the top of the inflorescences;-   Leaves: Linear; acaulescent; bi-ranked; entire; glabrous and    glaucous both abaxial and adaxial; sessile; apex acute, base    sheathing scape; to about 37.5 cm long and 11.0 mm across, average    about 35.0 cm long and about 10.0 mm across; about 12 per division;    attitude upright becoming outright and arching;-   Leaf color: Abaxial and adaxial base nearest RHS 144D; mature and    young adaxial and abaxial nearest RHS 137A;-   Veins: Parallel; abaxial midrib about 2.0 mm across and color same    as surrounding leaf tissue;-   Inflorescence: Pseudo-umbel initially sheathed in two bracts;-   Bracts: Deltoid; dehiscent; acuminate apex; truncate base; scarious;    to about 45.0 mm long and 15.0 mm wide near middle;-   Bract color: Variable; nearest RHS 165D and RHS 165B;-   Flowers: Funnelform; single, with two sets of three tepals; about 65    to 80 per scape; upward and outwardly facing; about 30.0 mm across    and 26.0 mm deep; individually lasting for about four to five days,    individual inflorescence lasting about two weeks; flowers remain    effective from late-July repeating into late August for    approximately six weeks in Zeeland, Mich.;-   Flower fragrance: None detected;-   Buds one to two days prior to opening: Ellipsoidal with rounded apex    and base; about 18.0 mm long and about 7.0 mm in diameter at widest    point with near apex;-   Bud color one day from opening: Proximal 4.0 mm nearest RHS 150D,    distally nearest RHS NN155D;-   Tepals: 2 sets of 3; both sets open to almost flat face; both sets    identical in coloration;-   Inner tepals: Glabrous; obtuse; rounded apex; base attenuate, fused    in proximal 8.0 mm; margin entire to micro-erose; width at base    about 2.0 mm; about 10.0 mm across at widest point and about 23.0 mm    long;-   Outer tepals: Glabrous; obtuse; rounded apex; base attenuate, fused    in proximal 8.0 mm; margin entire; width at base about 2.0 mm; about    6.0 mm across at widest point and about 23.0. m long;-   Tepal color adaxial: Distally nearest RHS NN155D, base nearest RHS    4D;-   Tepal color abaxial: Distally nearest RHS NN155D; basal 5.5 mm    nearest RHS 157B; rarely with slight lavender blush near apex of    nearest RHS 92D;-   Pedicel: Cylindrical; average about 36.0 mm long and 1.0 mm    diameter; upright to outright;-   Pedicel color: Between RHS 144A and RHS 146C distally blushed with    nearest RHS 187A;-   Peduncle: Becoming cylindrical in maturity; typically one per    division; erect; to about 110.0 cm tall and 11.0 mm diameter at    base, average 96.0 cm tall; extending above foliage;-   Peduncle color: Between RHS 146D and RHS 144A proximally;-   Gynoecium: Single; tricarpelled; about 22.0 mm long;    -   -   Style.—Single, arcuate upwards in distal one-third; about            13.0 mm long, 0.5 mm diameter; color nearest RHS NN155D.        -   Stigma.—About 0.3 mm across; color nearest RHS NN155C.        -   Ovary.—Superior; ellipsoidal; about 8.5 mm long and 3.5 mm            diameter near middle with an acute apex and truncate base;            color nearest RHS 145C.-   Androecium: Six;    -   -   Filaments.—Six; adnate to inner corolla in proximal 6.0 mm            and free in distal 11.0 mm; about 0.5 mm in diameter;            arcuate slightly upward; color nearest RHS NN155D.        -   Anthers.—Oblong; dorsifixed, longitudinal; about 3.0 mm long            and 1.0 mm wide; color closest to RHS N92D.        -   Pollen.—Color nearest RHS 11B.-   Fruit: Oblong ellipsoidal; non-fleshy, dehiscent, tri-loculicidal    capsule with three distinct lobes; about 21.0 mm long and 9.0 mm in    across; color while maturing nearest RHS N144D and at dehiscence    variable between RHS 164D and RHS 166B at lines of dehiscence;-   Seed: Up to about 30 per capsule; flattened single wing with embryo    situated near one end; about 6.0 mm long, about 3.0 mm wide and    about 1.0 mm thick at embryo; color nearest RHS 202A;-   Disease and pest resistance and tolerance: ‘Galaxy White’ has not    shown resistance to diseases and pests beyond that common for lily    of the Nile plants. The plant grows best and shows best coloration    with plenty of moisture, adequate drainage, but is able to tolerate    some drought when mature and direct sun without leaf burn when    provided sufficient water.

Hardiness at least from USDA zone 6 through 11. The new plant is usefulfor landscaping en masse, as a single specimen or small groups, as acontainer plant and as a cut flower.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct ornamental plantcultivar named Agapanthus ‘Galaxy White’ as herein described andillustrated.